In democratic
nations, voting is a method by which groups of people choose their leaders
and decide public issues. In the United States, voting is considered one
of the most important rights of a citizen with that right being guaranteed
by the constitution.

In the 1700's,
oral elections were conducted. The states later switched to written ballots,
requiring the voters to sign their ballots. Some citizens, however, feared
that others might react negatively if they voted as they wished. States
began using secret ballots so that each voter could choose or vote freely
with anonymity.

In honor of
all the confusion surrounding the year 2000 presidential election - I have
put together a collection of voting machine patents issued throughout the
years. Hundreds of voting and electoral devices have been invented - maybe
some of them work?Method
and apparatus for votingInventor -
Roland HarpPatent #5,585,612Date - December
17, 1996

AbstractA voting machine
is provided allowing an illiterate, sight impaired or blind individual
to cast a vote in privacy and without assistance from another party. The
voting machine includes a ballot box having a plurality of voting mechanisms
for allowing the individual to cast a vote. One voting mechanism is provided
for each election candidate/each side of an election issue. The voting
machine also includes an audio player that plays an audio presentation
that guides the individual through the voting process by identifying each
voting mechanism. A tactile and visual map may also be provided. The map
cooperates with the audio presentation to orient the individual for voting.
A method is also disclosed.

Voting
machine with punch card attachmentInventor -
Cothburn O'NealPatent #4,025,040Date - May
24, 1977A compact,
lightweight, manually operated voting machine with provisions for straight
ticket, selective and write-in voting, and for choosing two or more candidates
from a list of several running at large; with provision for recording each
voter's choice on a punch card for computer counting, and including a mechanical
counter automatically totaling the votes for each candidate for confirmation
of the punch card count.Voting
MachineInventor -
S.R ShoupPatent #2,054,103Date - September
15, 1936Voting
boothInventor -
Derry HobsonPatent #D378,173Date - February
25, 1997The ornamental
design for a voting booth, as shown and described.Mobile
voting serviceInventor -
Oscar SmithPatent #4,377,367Date - March
22, 1983The mobile
voting service includes a vehicle having a driving cab and body mounted
on a chassis. Preferably four voting booth are disposed inside the vehicle
body to take the booths to voters located at various locations such as
hospitals, military installations, low income housing areas, nursing homes,
industrial plants, businesses, and rural areas to permit them to vote for
the candidate of their choice. The vehicle further includes a two-way communication
system, office equipment, and a hydraulic lift mounted on the vehicle body
adjacent a door opening into the vehicle. The hydraulic lift includes a
platform with at least one hydraulic support and hydraulic equipment for
raising and lowering the platform with respect to the vehicle body. The
hydraulic lift may be used to install the voting booths and office equipment
or to permit handicapped voters to enter and exit the vehicle body for
voting purposes. The voting vehicle may further include a bathroom and
sleeping quarters for the personnel operating the vehicle and voting booths.